Automatic musical instrument or player.



No. 843,755E PATENTES FEB. 12, 1907. P. B. KLUGH. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUAR UR PLAYER.

QM 37% y z Mm No."843,'755. 'PATENTED FEB. l2, 1907. P.` B. KLUGH. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OR'PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILEDv JUNI'LS. 1905.

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O@OO@Q@@@@Q0Q @069606690 0 f/ff 20% No'. 843,755. PATENTBD PEB. I2, 1907.`

P. B. IILUGII.` i AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 0R PLAYER.

AII'LIGATIOI FILED JUNE 3, 1905.

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@Mmmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL BROWN KLUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CABLE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT R PLAYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application ltiled June 3,1905. 'Serial No. 263,629,

To a/Z whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL BROWN KLUGH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at vzOhic'ago, the county ci Cook and State of specification, reference being had to the acmatic-action.

. companying drawings, forming a part thereoi".

I O l This invention relates to automatic musical instruments, commonly called players for musical instruments, and its purpose is to provide improved means operated by the various stops and levers for regulating the playing 'both as to speed and intensityr and or adjusting the means which. carry the perforated controlling-sheet relatively to the tracker-board for accurate registration and other.purposes for which such adjustment may be serviceable.

It consists of the features of construction set out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of the mechanism of an automatic player cmbodying my improvements, the top cover re- -moved and other parts omitted and broken.

away. Fig. 2 is a partly-sectional rear elevation of the same mechanism, section being -made at the line 2 2 on Fig. 1 through the valve-boxes and the air-chamber of the pneu- Fig. 3 is a partly-sectional bottom plan view of the lever connections from the stops to the different valves which -they operate, the front board being cut in horizontal section at a plane below the levers.

-' Fig. 4 is a 'detail section at thev line e 4 on Fig. 3.' Fig. 5 is a detail section at the line 5 5 on F ig. 1, showing the governor, u hich would alsoappear similarly in a section at the line 5al 5a on Fig. 1i.

Certain elements in this structure are of familiar form. and will not be described, but only mentioned for identiiication.

1 is the air-chamber of the pneumatic-action ofa pneumatically-operated automatic player of, the general type which employs l rimary pneumaties 2 2 2 in such chamber orcontrolling the actionjof motor-pneumatics which actuate the strikers for striking the keys, such motor-pneumatics and the connections between them and the primary pneumatics being not shown, but being of familiar construction. The customary tracker-board 3, rolls 4 4 for carrying the perforated controlling-sheet, (not shown,) wind engine or motor comprising three'bellows 5 5 5, and the triplecranlred shaft 6, the train 7, driven by such motor for operating the rolls, and the n indchest or main vacuum-chamber 8- are in general oi usual construction and for the purpose of understanding the inventions involved in this ease require no further particular description except as to certain minor details, which n' ill be described hereinafter in their proper .connection with the speciiic improve-ments constituting the present invention.

In the train 7 the shaft 9 is continuously driven. by the chain 10, connecting it with the main crank-shaft 6, and the pinion 11 on the inner end ci said shaft 9 being arranged to mesh with the gear 12 on the shaft of the takeup roll 4a, is carried into and out 'of mesh with said gear 12 bythelever 13,whose 'finger 13"l engages the hub of the sprocket-wheel 14, which is Jfast on the shaft 9 to slide the latter longitudinally in its bearings. Said hub is one member or a clutch having a driving-iinger lei, carried into engagement with the iinger 15b oi the gear 15 by the sliding oi the shaft in a. direction and to a distance sulficient to carry the pinion 11 out of mesh with the gear 12, and by the engagement of the .clutch when the shaft is thus moved the rewinding movement is communicated to the rewind-roll e in the opposite direction to the take-up movement of the roll 4a. The lever 13 is operated by the link 16, which connects said lever with the stop-lever 17 (sce Fig. 3,) whose stop-finger 17 a projects through the slot 171 in the stop-board, the lever itself being hilcrumed at 17C on the lower side of the stop-board. On the lower side of the stopboard there is mounted the rock-shaft 1S, which has a lever-arm 18a, projecting rearward and provided with an obliqucly-extending finger or crank-wrist-lSb, whlch protrudes under the lever 17 near the forward end of the latter', said lever having on its under side a beveled abutment 17d, facing the iinger 18h, so that as the lever is moved to the left for throwing the driving-train in connection with the rewind-roll and disconnecting the take-up roll said abutment 17 d, encountering the beveled crank-iinger 18h, rocks the shaft 18 in its bearings. the shaft 18 to hold the lever-arm 18aup against the under side of the stop-board, and the rock-shatt-S has at the opposite end a le- The spring 19 operates on IOO . ver-arm 18"', which at the normal yposition in \wh1ch the shaft 1s held byvthe spring stands across the path of an abutment oriinger'lf?,

which is provided on a lever 20, fulcrurned on 4 .the lower'side of' the stop-board and -having at its forward end a stop-finger 21, protruding. up 'through a slot 22 in the stop-board. This lever at'its rear end is connected by a link 23 With-the lever 24,- fulcrumed on the back of the front board 25, and connected at its lower end =.with the valve-rod 26, which operates the valve. hereinafter described for connectionof the driving-train with the 'revWlnd and take-u roll, respectively, and vWhich is commonly pa ed the freWind-le'ver, and the lever 24,1Which controls the accent, is directly related to the construction of the valve This valve mechanism is shown in Fig. 2.

mechanism which the `accent-stop controlIs.

t comprises the valve-box 27, which has two connections v yith the Wind-chest 8, through the duets 28v and 29. The connection by t e duct 28 includes a governor, such as shown in Fig. 5; but theduct 29- connects directly with the'wind-ches't'. -A valve 30 is arranged to slide over the mouth ofthe duct 28 Within the valve-box, and a spring 31, connected to a post 32 in the box, operates to hold the valve in open position, as shown in Fig. 2. A valve. 33 is arranged to :slide similarlyvover the mouth ofthe ductf29. This latter valve is connected to the valve-rod 26, and said rod=E is also extended through the post 32, so that With sufficient stroke it may collide with the upstanding inger`30a of the valve 30 andi move the latter valve to close it. Whenboth the valves 3l) and 33 are Wide open, the full suction from the Wind-chest operates through,

the valve-box andthe duct 28 and 29, con-I necting it With the air-chamber of the pneumatic-action to give the most powerful actionE to the strikers, and under these conditions;

the intensity ofthe stroke is limited only bythe force ofthe pumping up to the limit of the tension which. can be maintained in the Windch'est, which is limited and varied by means. Wellv understood; but When the valve 33 is closed the governor (see Fig. 5) limits the tension operative upon the pneumatic-action to that for Which the governor is adjusted, which Will be suchas to produce the softest playing desired. By moving the valve 33 more or less over the mouth of the duct 29 the playing may be graduated from the softest, which is produced under the action of the governor, to

. board.

the loudest, which would be produced when vthe valve33 is Wide open, and the accentstop 21 is moved-to graduate the opening of the valve 33 from the position at which it is for opening the valve is prevented by the collision of the finger 20a With the lever-arm 18.9

of the rock-shaft 1S. l

When the motor mechanism for operating the rolls is set for rewinding, the air communication of the pneumatic -action with the Wind-chest should be entirel cut ofi', so that no playin will result from t e reverse movement of t e controll' -sheet or the tracker- In order touclse not only the duct 29, but the duct 28, it is necessary that the lever 24, connected with the accent-stop 21, should be moved past the oint at which i-t is operated to merely'close. t ie duct 29l and in., only when order that it may be thus moved the' motor mechanism is set for rewinding the rock-shaft 18 and its connections above described with the lever 17 are provided, for it Will be observed that when the lever 17 is moved tothe left for settin the train in connection with the rewind-ro the finger 18 of the rock-shaft 18 is moved out of the path of the lever 20 and thatthe accent-stop 2,1 on that lever may then be moved to the limit of the slot 22, causing the head, of the valve-rod 26 to.A encounter the upstand/mg abutment 30a of the valve 30 and, carry that valve over the mouth. of the duct 28, closing the same,

-while. the valve 33, having already closed the Too from which the nonetisdrivcdf thecilgh. the

valve-'box 341.'. Thisvalve-box has two connections withthe. Windelmeg one. through the duct 35, which, leadsdirectly into tie Wind-chest, and, other through the. duct -36, which toI the Wind-chest through governor 37. (SeeFig. 5.).. The mouths of lthese two ducts inthe valve-box ar e y coritrolled by valves 40 and; 431i, respectively.. IThe valve 41 is operated by the lever/2, fnlcrurned at 43 ontherearside. of, the front board and connected' at its uppen end, by

ymeans of a link le With the rear` and oft-he tempo-stop leven 4,5, at Whoseforward en d the tempo-stop` 46 project-s upfthrough the slot 47 in the stop-board. Themoveinent of the tempo-stop 46 to the extreme left of the slot causes the valve 41 to close the mouth of the duct 36, and its movement toward the right opens the mouth of the duct more or less, according to distance, and. thereby enables the operator to control the axnountof air drawn through the motor and the resulting speed of rotation and of the playing or tempo of the music up to the maximum speed determined by the adjustment of the governor 3' For exceptional acceleration the valve 40 may be opened more or less to give the motor direct communication with the wind-chest,- and for that purpose this valve has its operating-rod 48 connected to the lower end ci the lever-arm 49 on the rock.-

Ashaft 50, mounted on the under side oi the stop-board and having at its forward end' a lever-arnr517 connected with the stop-button 52; which extends up through. the stop-board, a spring 53 being provided at any convenient point in the connections describei'l tor holding the valve in closed position. rllhe spring is illustrated as connecttd to the leve a9 and to the valve-boi( v34, open. ing in proper direction for closing the 'valve fill. The stop-button 52 will be depressed for opening the valve 40 not only for exceptional acceleration ot' the playing7 but Jlor rewinding, being held down-during the entire time oi rewinding. The operator will therefore depress this stop-button whenever the re'- Wind-stop 17 is operated for rewinding.

.l claiml. ln an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with the wind-chest and the air-chamber of the pneumatic-action, two passages connecting them; a separate valve 'for each assage; a governor in one passage between t ie valve and the wind-chest; a stop for o erating both valves and connections by w rich the movement of the stop in one direction closes the valves1 one after the o ther.

2. ln an automatic musical instrument or player7 in combination with the wind-chest and the air-chamber of the pneumatic-action, two passages connecting them; a governor in the first passage, and a valve controlling the passage between the governor and the airchamber; a gradually-closing valve in the second passage; a stop for operating both valves and connections from said stop to the valves respectively by which the movement of the stop in one direction rirst closes the second valve and afterward closes the 'lirst 3. In an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with .the wind-chest andthe air-chamber of the pne'tnnatic-action, two passages connecting them a governor in one passage; a valve for the governed passage; a separate gradually opening and closing valve for the other passage; a stop and connections by which it operates the second valve for gradual opening and closing, and additional connections by whichit operates the first valve by a range of movement not included in that by which it and closes the second valve. A

4. In an automatic musical instrument or pla er, in combination with the wind-chest andY the air-chamber of the pneumatic-action, a valve-box a passage connecting it with the air-chamber two passages connecting iov-.lith

ling said governed passage; a second valve in the bo); controlling the other passage and movable independently of the first valve; means holding the first valve normally fully open; means for gradually opening and closingthe second valve; a stop for operating said means ano connections operated by the stop for closing the Y.first valve while the second valve remains closed.

.5. ln an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with the windchest -and the air-chamber o't the pneumatic-action,

valve-box a passage connecting it with the air-cli amber two passages connecting it with the wind-chest; a governor in the lirst ol' said passages; valve normally openfcontrolling said passage; a valve for controlling the second passage; a longitudinally-reciprocating rod protruding from the valve-box connected therein with the second valve, and abutments on the rod and on the iirst valve which collide tor seating the iirst valve after the rod is moved longitudinally for fully closing the second; a stop and connections therefrom tor reciprocating the rod..

6. ln an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with the pneumaticaction; twoop assages through which it derives, respectively, higher and lower tension; valves controlling such passages respectively; an accent-stop and connections therefrom for closing theliigher and lower tension-valves in the order named, by movement'of the stop in one direction; a stop-arresting device; a rewind-stop andconnections therefrom for withdrawing the stop-arresting device.

7. in an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with the wind-chest and the pneumatic-action means for controlling the communication between them tor varying the intensity of the playing comprising a governed passage and an ungoverned roo passage; a' separate valve for each passage f an accent-stop and connections therefrom to the valves Whose movement m one direction closes first the valve in the ungoverned passage andy afterward the valve in the governed passage; the roll-actuating mechanism and its controlling devices comprising a rewindstop meansiwhich normally arrest the accentstop at the limit ofthe movement which closest-he irst valve, and connections thereto' from the rewind-stop 'for withdrawing the arresting device.

SUS'

8. In an automatic musical instrument or y of 'the governed passage a rock-shaft having i 3o nunication of the pneumatic-action with the two lever-firmsyoonneetions from one of' them for operating the valve of the ungov.

ernedppassfige; a stopv-buttton connected with the other arm and a spring which acts on the rook-shaft to hold the last-mentionedl valve' closed Aandi the stop-button protruded..

. 9a In an automatic musical instrument or player, 1n comblnatlon, sa,y wind-,ehetg a pneumatic-action playing. and rewind stop, andl means by whichl said stopoontrols the com- Wind-chest a pneumatic motor; two communications between the motor and the windchest; a governor in one of said communica-p tions a tempo-valve for controllingsaid gov* erned `communioation; a; separately-operated valve-controlling the ungoverned commum' my hand,- at Chicago, Ilinois,-this 22d day of 4-May,A,.D'. 1905. J

" Y. PAUL BRWNIKLUGH. I

In presenceof- CHA-s. SBUBTON; J. S; ABnOTT.

the' last-mentioned* 

